Piastri vs. Norris: Which One Is McLaren F1’s Preferred Driver?

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      A month before Formula 1 debuted in 2025, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri expressed a quiet confidence: “I can become World Champion this year,” the Australian driver declared outright in February.

      This self-belief was bold, though perhaps premature. The two McLarens hadn’t yet begun testing. If one was expected to excel, it was likely Lando Norris’ No. 4. Last season, the British driver fell short of the World Drivers' Championship by 63 points to reigning champion Max Verstappen. Despite McLaren management asserting that neither driver was prioritized as the team’s “No. 1,” Norris’ title contention often placed Piastri at a disadvantage in team strategies.

      In 2025, Norris led the championship for the first four races. Piastri's championship aspirations began to take shape during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

      Driving the Mercedes-powered No. 81, he entered the race weekend trailing behind Norris, failing to lead in any of the three practice sessions. Even after Norris’ car crashed into the wall during the third qualifying round on Saturday, Piastri couldn't quite surpass Verstappen's lap time. He started in second on Sunday and managed to overtake the Red Bull at the first corner. Verstappen, who went off the track to maintain the lead and claimed Piastri pushed him out, received a five-second time penalty.

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      It wasn’t until midway through the race during Verstappen's pit stop that McLaren faced a pivotal decision: With Norris in front degrading his tires while Piastri had fresher ones and more speed, would the team ask Piastri to ease off to support Norris or instruct Norris to swap places to extend their lead? The orange machine with the number four entered the pit lane, allowing Piastri to take the lead on the timesheet. He finished the final 14 laps unchallenged from behind. Norris, who recovered from a 10th-place start, finished fourth, nine seconds behind Piastri.

      However, the closeness of the McLarens raised a broader question that went beyond the race: Who does the team favor in the championship chase?

      If the 2025 F1 season marks the main event of the teammate title battle, then 2024 served as the appetizer. Last year saw numerous team orders from the pit wall to prevent on-track conflicts, often putting Piastri in a support role while Norris pursued the championship. Piastri maintained that it was a team effort, with both drivers sacrificing positions. At the start of the 2025 season during the Australian Grand Prix, the 24-year-old was briefly asked to hold his position, suggesting he might be reverting to his previous year’s role despite claiming they were beginning anew.

      Now, with two contenders leading the World Drivers’ Championship and 19 races remaining, McLaren faces a unique situation where both drivers, equipped with the top car in the sport, are on equal standing. They each have five career wins in F1, although Piastri has participated in 82 fewer Grands Prix.

      The team has already taken steps off the track, such as extending Piastri's contract through at least 2028, while Norris’ contract expires in 2027. Despite the potential for both drivers to push each other in performance, McLaren has maintained an image of unity and collaboration.

      “We’ve got our two number ones,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown commented after Sunday’s race. “We’ve yet to see them have an epic battle. I think that day is coming, and I’m looking forward to it.”

      When that day arrives, it might be more about personality than skill. Piastri has raced alongside Verstappen, adopting a quieter, more composed approach, while Norris insists he can win a championship by being a nice guy. The 25-year-old’s indecision in critical moments, poor pole-to-win conversion rate, and self-criticism have drawn scrutiny and raised concerns about his championship potential. Former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel remarked that Norris’ vulnerability makes him a strong role model.

      McLaren’s decision to field two young drivers with seemingly contrasting styles and personalities defies convention, but it has proven effective. However, the question remains: how long until only one emerges as the top contender? Norris, who joined McLaren in 2019, was seen as the favored future for the team until Piastri arrived.

      Just 10 points separate Piastri from Norris in the standings. Following Norris’ strong drive in Miami last year, the championship order could shift with the next race. Verstappen, known as “The Inevitable,” remains close behind the McLarens, having demonstrated impressive speed during qualifying in a less competitive car.

      This season was expected to be tightly contested—possibly the closest in the sport’s history—characterized by narrow performance margins and minor gaps in the